Meta is spinning off its popular virtual reality fitness application, Supernatural, into a newly formed independent company called Supernatural Health. The transition, scheduled to take place later this year, will see the original founders reclaim control of the platform. This move comes after Meta faced significant backlash from the game’s dedicated user base following corporate restructuring, layoffs, and a subsequent halt on new content development.

The decision marks a surprising turn of events given the extensive regulatory hurdles Meta overcame to acquire Within, the development studio behind Supernatural, in 2023. Meta endured an intense eight-month antitrust battle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to finalize the acquisition, which was valued at approximately $400 million. Despite the hard-fought legal victory, Meta subsequently downsized its virtual reality division and scaled back updates for the fitness app, sparking concerns among users that the platform would eventually be abandoned.

Under the new arrangement, Supernatural Health will operate as an independent startup built from the ground up, retaining the original coaching staff and core gameplay elements. Representatives from Supernatural Health expressed gratitude for Meta’s resources during its growth phase, noting that both companies agree the community is best served by a dedicated, independent team. Meta has reportedly been supportive of the transition, allowing the fitness app to survive outside of the tech giant’s broader corporate umbrella.

Key Takeaways

• Meta is spinning off the VR fitness app Supernatural into an independent company named Supernatural Health, led by its original founders.
• The spin-off follows Meta's $400 million acquisition of developer Within in 2023, which required overcoming an intense eight-month FTC antitrust lawsuit.
• The new independent entity will take over operations later this year, preserving the existing coaching staff and core workout content.

Editor’s Analysis & Impact

Meta’s decision to spin off Supernatural highlights the ongoing challenges big tech companies face when integrating niche consumer products into broader corporate ecosystems. After spending hundreds of millions of dollars and enduring rigorous regulatory scrutiny from the FTC, Meta’s retreat from active development of the VR fitness app underscores a strategic shift away from its original, highly ambitious metaverse vision. By allowing the original founders to spin the product back out into an independent startup, Meta avoids the public relations fallout of shutting down a beloved service while cutting its own operational overhead. For the broader VR and fitness tech industries, this move demonstrates that specialized, community-driven applications may thrive better as agile, independent entities rather than small cogs within massive tech conglomerates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening to the VR fitness app Supernatural?
A: Supernatural is being spun off from Meta into a new, independent company called Supernatural Health, which will be led by the app's original founders.

Q: Will the app's content or coaches change after the transition?
A: No, the new independent company has confirmed that the core DNA of the app, including the existing coaches and workout formats, will remain the same.

Q: Why did Meta decide to spin off the app after fighting to acquire it?
A: Following its $400 million acquisition of Within in 2023, Meta faced internal restructuring, laid off parts of its VR team, and halted new content updates. The spin-off allows the app to continue growing under a dedicated team while Meta reduces its direct involvement.